Welcome to the history section of SabresHub.com! When you cover a franchise with as much deep-rooted history as the Buffalo Sabres, questions naturally pile up in the inbox. Whether you are a lifelong fan who vividly remembers the raucous energy of The Aud or a new supporter just learning about the blue and gold, this page is for you.
As we look back at the legacy of Buffalo hockey, we have gathered the most frequently searched questions about the Sabres and answered them all right here in one convenient spot.
The Buffalo Sabres officially entered the National Hockey League in 1970. They joined alongside the Vancouver Canucks during the league’s second major wave of expansion. On October 10, 1970, the team played its very first home game. They hit the ice at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, affectionately known by locals as “The Aud.” To determine which expansion team would get the first overall draft pick, a roulette wheel was famously spun. The Sabres won that spin, allowing them to draft a generational talent who would change the franchise forever: Gilbert Perreault.
Original owners Seymour Knox III and Northrup Knox wanted an entirely unique identity. At the time, “Bison” was the standard go-to nickname for Buffalo sports teams. Therefore, the owners held a public name-the-team contest to find something fresh.
Out of numerous wild suggestions, the winning entry was “Sabres,” submitted by a filmmaker named Harry Cole. Seymour Knox loved the idea because a sabre is a weapon carried by a leader. It is a tool effective for both offense and defense. Furthermore, the team explicitly spells it “Sabres” rather than “Sabers” to honor the large contingent of fans located just a quick drive across the border in Southern Ontario.
The short answer is no, but the team has come incredibly close. Buffalo has secured three conference championships (1975, 1980, and 1999) and captured the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best regular-season record in the 2006-2007 season.
Their most memorable deep playoff runs resulted in two Stanley Cup Final appearances. First, they battled the heavily favored Philadelphia Flyers in 1975. Later, they faced the Dallas Stars in 1999, a series that ended in a famously controversial triple-overtime loss. Despite the heartbreak, the quest for the Cup remains the ultimate driving force for the organization today.
You simply cannot talk about Sabres history without bringing up the “French Connection.” This legendary offensive line absolutely terrorized opposing NHL goaltenders throughout the 1970s.
The trio featured Hall of Fame center Gilbert Perreault, flanked by elite wingers Rick Martin and Rene Robert. All three players were French-Canadian, which quickly earned them the famous moniker. Their incredible chemistry on the ice and dazzling scoring prowess set franchise records that remain practically untouchable today.
Sabretooth is the beloved official mascot of the franchise. He made his grand debut on January 1, 1988. Before Sabretooth arrived, the team briefly experimented with a mascot named Sammy Sabre. However, the organization eventually pivoted to the lovable saber-toothed tiger we know today. Decades later, Sabretooth remains an energetic staple at the KeyBank Center, hyping up the crowd during the opening twenty minutes of action and all throughout the game.
The “Fog Game” is one of the most famous and bizarre events in NHL history. It took place on May 20, 1975, during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Philadelphia Flyers. Because The Aud lacked an air conditioning system, unusual heat and humidity outside caused a thick fog to roll over the ice.
Players could barely see the puck, and officials had to repeatedly stop play to let players skate around to clear the mist. Adding to the wild atmosphere, a live bat famously swooped down toward the ice during the game, resulting in an unbelievable delay that fans still talk about today.
We use cookies to bring you the best Sabres coverage, analyze our traffic, and show relevant ads. You can choose to accept all cookies, reject non-essential ones, or manage your preferences below.
Manage your cookie preferences below:
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.
These cookies are used for managing login functionality on this website.
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Service URL: policies.google.com (opens in a new window)
